Another completed set post I’ve been sitting on forever is the 2013 WBC set. I finished this off in early 2015, shortly after our second son was born, and meant to post it when the 2017 WBC got started. But – since I basically stopped blogging around then, I didn’t post. So, here it is 3 years later (and nearly 5 years after the trade) at what isn’t quite as much of an appropriate time!
Info about the set:
Set description: “Featuring 15 cards of the biggest stars from around the world representing their countries in their World Baseball Classic uniforms”.
Set composition: 15 cards, series 2; I think 1:8 or so but not sure
Hall of Famers: None; despite the time it took me to make this post, this is still a pretty recent set
How I put the set together:
- 5 cards from my s2 Hobby box
- 2 cards from a s2 blaster
- 8 cards from trades
Thoughts on the set: I view this set as a missed opportunity. I think the WBC is super-interesting and have generally followed it and watched what I could (though I’m usually very busy in March). This is the kind of set that could get guys who aren’t just MLB players in the set. Kenta Maeda, for example, was not in MLB yet but pitched for Japan in the Classic. Getting him and some lesser-known players would have been great.
Card that completed my set: #WBC2 – Anthony Rizzo
This was one of 6 cards I got from a trade with Off Hiatus. As I said, this was back in early 2015, the trade post is here.
Best card (my opinion): #WBC11 – Pablo Sandoval
Robinson Cano was the other player I considered since he won the MVP of the whole event. But any card of the Panda with a Spring Training timeframe is a winner for me.
My Favorite Reds card: #WBC3 – Joey Votto
The only Reds player in this set, I’m not even sure if it counts since he’s in his WBC team uniform.
Any other tidbits: As mentioned, Cano won the MVP as a member of the Dominican Republic team. They won the title, beating Puerto Rico, 3-0, in the final.
The set is broken out by team as follows:
- Dominican Republic – 3
- USA – 3
- Canada – 2
- Venezuela – 3
- Puerto Rico – 2
- Mexico – 1
- Italy – 1
Lifetime Topps project 